Defining a Good Candidate & Box Size
Blog Post by Kerry Norman
Defining a Good Candidate
The first step in tree relocation is to conduct a comprehensive inspection of the tree and site to determine the likelihood of it surviving and thriving following relocation. The tree must be healthy and vigorous, showing no indications of stress. Structural integrity is also critical because many trees are relocated from oak woodlands to areas of high traffic where hazard potential is a definite concern.
Trees must be thoroughly inspected for the signs and symptoms of significant insect pests and diseases. Look for structural problems, e.g., included bark, girdling roots, cracks, cavities and decay in the trunk and branches. Tree species must also be considered, as there are several that do not respond well to relocation.
 |
 |
| Arbutus unedo- This tree was relocated approximately 5 years ago. It was put into a 20′ box. The tree continues to perform and is clearly an asset to the property. |
Box Size
Determining the adequate box size for a particular tree requires a great deal of experience and knowledge. Considerations include, but are not limited to, species, trunk diameter, canopy size, structure, size of roots and, of course, site conditions. The ISA standard for determining container size is approximately nine inches (diameter) of root ball to each inch of trunk diameter. Most tree companies, however, allow only about seven inches of root ball per inch of trunk diameter.
To be competitive, tree-moving companies are forced to take this to the extreme by putting trees in comparatively small boxes. While some tree species may survive with smaller root balls than recommended, others species are very sensitive to box size. On the more sensitive species, I recommend using the largest box allowable considering the project budget. The greater the root mass the greater the likelihood of success.
Have a project you’d like to discuss? Contact Arbor Essence today at (310) 592-1104 or use form below.
[contact_bank form_id=1]
